Upwardly venting ridge vent and method of using same

ABSTRACT

A ridge vent for venting air through a ridge opening of a roof. The ridge vent has an elongated body having spaced apart outer attachment flanges to partially extend down a sloped roof deck on either side of the ridge opening a top surface on said elongated body extending between and connecting the outer flanges. It also has upwardly facing ventilation openings formed a top of the elongated body to permit air to vent though the body; and at least one weather deflecting baffle extending below the upwardly facing ventilation openings to deflect water passing through the ventilation openings away from the ridge opening and onto the roof deck adjacent to and below the ridge opening. A method of installing the vent is also shown.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of building ventilation and in particular to the type of ventilation that may be provided for unheated spaces such as attic spaces in residential buildings. Most particularly this invention relates to a form of ridge vent that can be mounted over a slot along a roof peak or ridge and used to allow air to passively vent from the attic while at the same time inhibiting weather, pests and the like from passing through the ridge vent and into the attic.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roof vents are well known devices to allow air to passively vent from inside building spaces, such as attics, to the outside. This form of venting prevents the buildup of moist air within the attic or other building space thus reducing condensation, mold, rot and other consequences of trapped moist air. As well, the changeover of attic air allows for heat trapped in the attic to be vented, for example in the summer. As the warm moist air rises through the ridge vent, cooler drier air may be drawn in to the bottom of the attic space through eve or soffit vents and thus the air can be changed over in the attic. For these reasons and others modern building codes require that buildings include an appropriate amount of roof venting from their attic spaces.

Such venting is typically provided by preformed vent devices mounted to the roof which can take many forms. Although in the past many were made from metal, more recently they have been formed from molded plastic. There are different styles of vents including stand alone vents that are placed over openings formed in the roof deck and ridge vents which are placed over a slot along the peak or ridge of the roof. Ridge vents are popular because, among other things they provide a topmost venting point at the peak of the roof allowing for complete air exchange from the enclosed space. They also can provide a relatively large venting area which is called a net free area (“NFA”).

There are also many forms of ridge vents including sectional vents, which are made from discreet relatively rigid sections of vent that are attached end to end to form a continuous vent along the peak and roll vents which are flexible and can be rolled into place on the roof peak. A common feature of both sectional vents and roll vents is that the air flow pathway lies under the vent structure and then out along the sides of the vent which run parallel to the roof peak below the peak. As the vents are typically attached to the roof deck along the same side edges, this means the air passageway also typically passes past or around the fasteners. As a result special care is required to avoid having the fasteners compress the vent and block off the air passageway. As well in many of the prior art designs the tops of the vents are covered by a row of cap shingles. In some cases this is an advantage as openings can be left in the sectional vent under where the cap shingles are placed saving on the amount of plastic material used to mold the vent for example.

However, it can be time consuming and laborious to install the row of cap shingles and again a risk arises that the act of attaching the shingles with roofing nails through the vent body will compress the height of the vent and compromise the net free air flow area. This tendency to compromise the air flow at both the center and the edges of the vent can be exacerbated by the use of air compression nail guns which are commonly used in modern roofing construction. To combat this compression problem special design features and reinforcements are required in the ridge vent designs. Another issue limiting NFA in prior art is the height of the product which is limited by the length of the nails used to install. This is more common with a product that is installed with a nail gun.

Another problem with such prior vent designs is that the side vent openings are presented along the sides of the ridge and thus are visible when looking up parallel to the roof slope. Such openings can break up the otherwise clean lines of the shingled roof.

Examples of prior art ridge vents are provided in the following patents and applications:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,502

U.S.Pat. No. 6,277,024

U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,800

U.S. Pat. No. 7,024,829

United States Publication No. US2013/0344796

What is desired is a more easily installed ridge vent that allows free air exchange, is secure against normal weather and pests and is adaptable to various roof pitches without alteration. Further such a design should be compatible with modern nail guns and avoid the possibility of the air flow passageway being compromised, pinched or limited in size (NFA) by overly aggressive nailing or the size of the fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

What is provided is a ridge vent that may require less effort and thus may be easier to install than conventional cap shingled ridge vent designs. The present invention provides for an air flow passageway that is not located beneath any nailing points and thus may avoid the compression compromising issues of some of the prior art. The fastening location allows for the use of standard length roofing nails. The present invention may provide a centrally located upwardly facing grill to allow for air to pass out of the vent and thus avoids the continuous side edge vents of the prior art. In this way the present invention can present a continuous roof line when viewed from below, unlike to prior art, and avoids positive air pressure within the attic space.

The body of the vent can include flexible side attachment flanges extending outwardly at an angle to permit the vent to be easily secured to the sloped roof deck on either side of the peak adjacent to the ridge opening, by means of nails or the like. Opposed weather deflecting baffles may also be provided which extend above the ridge opening in the roof and below the upwardly facing grill to prevent weather from passing through the grill and into the ridge opening. In a preferred form the grill may be divided into two parts separated by a middle impervious portion. The weather deflecting baffles can extend from or adjacent to the impervious section to permit the ridge opening to be completely covered on both sides by the opposed impervious baffles. Most preferably the baffles extend far enough to cause water or other precipitation to be shed from the baffle onto the shingled roof deck at a location spaced sideways from and below the ridge opening in the roof peak to prevent the water from passing through the open peak slot. In a preferred form the baffles may include underside spacers to retain the baffles above the level of the roof deck and reinforcing ribs to retain the baffles below the level of the flexible side flanges to maintain a minimum design of net free area through the air ventilation passageway. In a most preferred form the flexible side flanges extend well beyond the ends of the baffles and the fasteners used to secure the ridge vent in place to the roof deck pass only through the flexible side flanges into the roof deck and not through the baffles. Thus fasteners used in the attachment of the vent to the peak do not compromise the net free area.

In one embodiment of the top venting ridge vent of the present invention a row of shingles may be secured to the sides of the vent to cover the fasteners used to secure the other attachment flanges of the vent to the roof deck. The shingles may also be secured at a position below the roof peak to the sides of the vent. In another embodiment the sides of the vent can be patterned to look like shingles to help disguise the vent, but no actual shingles need be attached.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a ridge vent for venting air through a ridge opening of a roof, the ridge vent comprising:

an elongated body having spaced apart outer attachment flanges to partially extend down a sloped roof deck on either side of the ridge opening;

a top surface on said elongated body extending between and connecting the outer flanges;

a plurality of upwardly facing ventilation openings formed in said elongated body to permit air to vent though said body;

at least one weather deflecting baffle extending below the upwardly facing ventilation openings to deflect water passing through said ventilation openings away from said ridge opening and onto said roof deck. Water may also exit from underneath the vent through the lower weeping holes at the bottom of the outer attachment flanges.

The device may made from a bendable material such as a plastic material or sheet metal or other and as a result the same device can be used on a wide variety of roof pitches, without requiring any special changes or adaptations to accommodate the different slopes.

Therefore according to another aspect the invention provides a method of securing a ridge vent to a roof having a ventilation slot formed along a peak of said roof the method comprising the steps of:

spreading opposed outer attachment flanges across a ventilation slot in a roof peak;

centering a top surface having a grill portion above said ventilation slot;

spreading weather deflecting baffles below the grill portion and said ventilation slot to prevent weather from passing through said grill section and then into said slot; and

fastening said ridge vent onto said roof peak with fasteners positioned down said roof slope from a free end of said weather deflecting baffles,

wherein said fasteners are positioned away from an air flow passageway passing up through said slot under said weather directing baffles and then around a free end of said baffles and up through said upwardly facing grill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will now be made by way of example only to preferred embodiments of the invention by reference to the following drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention installed over a roof peak according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is an end view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 showing how rain may be diverted according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an end view showing how air may be vented according to the present invention on a steep sloped application.

FIG. 4 is an end view as shown in FIG. 3 on a roof having a shallow roof pitch;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view showing weeping holes located adjacent to spacer ribs according to an aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an end perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is the embodiment of FIG. 6 secured over a roof peak according to one aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a vent 10 according to the present invention. The vent 10 includes top surface 12, and side or outer attachment flanges 14 and 16. Also shown is a roof peak 18, with a ventilation slot 20 and sloping roof sections 22 and 24. The vent 10 may straddle the ventilation slot 20 as shown. The sloping roof sections are comprised of a roof deck, such as plywood 26, supported by rafters in the usual way, and overlain with shingles 30, in the normal manner. The outer attachment flanges 14, 16 extend down on either side of the roof peak 18 and may be secured to the roof deck 26 in a normal manner such as by nails, screws, glue or the like but most typically with nails. Reinforcing ribs 27 may also be formed underneath the outer attachment flanges to strengthen the flanges and to provide a small drainage gap 29 (FIG. 2) between a lower edge of the outer attachment flanges 14, 16 and the shingles 30. Weeping holes 33 may also be provided to help drainage and water flow. Most preferably the reinforcing ribs 27 taper (getting shorter as they extend outwardly and downwardly) to permit the lower edges of the attachment flanges to be close to or rest on the shingle surface. Markings can be used on the outer face of the attachment flanges to indicate nailing points for the installers. The nailing points may be positioned to ensure the small weeping holes 33 adjacent to the tapered ribs 27 remain open for draining, even after the outer attachment flanges 14, 16 have been secured to the roof deck 26 by means of nails or other fasteners.

Two weather deflecting baffles 32, 34 may be provided extending down below the top surface 12 of the vent 10 and between the opposed attachment flanges 14, 16. These baffles 32, 34 preferably extend across and completely shelter the ventilation slot 20 from any rain or precipitation falling from above. The baffles 32, 34 may extend from opposite sides of an integral central strip 36 formed in the top surface 12 as shown. As explained in more detail below the strip 36 is preferably impervious to rain or other inclement weather. The top surface 12 will preferably also include a plurality of ventilation openings 52, on either side of the integral central strip 36. The ventilation openings may take the form of slots or openings which together form a grill 54 which can run along both sides of the strip 36. While one form of grill is shown it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention comprehends many different grill designs within the broad scope of the invention provided there is enough net free air flow area for the passage or venting of the air from the building space under the ventilation slot 26. The size of the grill openings may be enough to allow air flow, but small enough to prevent birds, pests and other unwanted things passing through the vent and into the building. The preferred grill dimensions may be regulated according to local building codes or the like.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of spacers 40 may be located on the undersides of the free ends 42 of the weather deflecting baffles 32, 34. The spacers 40 may be used to raise the free ends of the baffles above the shingled roof deck to allow air, passing up through the ventilation slot 20 in roof deck 26, to pass underneath and around the free ends 42 of the baffles 32, 34 as described below. The size of the spacers 40 can be determined by the amount of net free area that is required, and can be made according to the specific venting requirements. The spacers 40 ensure that the throat area below the free ends of the weather deflecting baffles or the net free area of the vent remains fully open even after installation. In turn, the tapered reinforcing ribs also acts as spacers to space the outer attachment flanges at a predetermined amount above the weather deflecting baffles. In this way the throat area above the weather deflecting baffles is also maintained opened along the length of the vent according to the present invention. It can now be understood that unlike the prior art the present invention provides a net free flow area which may be spaced apart from and separated from the location where the fasteners are used to secure the vent to the roof deck. As such, the present invention provides a vent design which is less likely to have the net free area of the vent pinched, limited by fastener length or otherwise compromised when the vent is being attached over the roof peak 18 (not shown in FIG. 2).

Also shown in FIG. 2 is precipitation in the form of rain 56 which is falling on the vent 10. As shown some of the rain falls on the outer attachment flange 14 and is shed onto the shingled roof surface at 61. Some of the rain falls on the opposite outer attachment flange 16 and is shed onto the opposite side of the roof peak, again on the shingled roof deck at 61. As well some rain may fall on the top surface 12, in which case it passes through the grill 54 and falls downwardly below the grill 54 at 55. In respect of this water the baffles 32, 34 form a shelter over the ventilation slot 20 deflecting the rain before it can enter the slot 20. The water is directed along the baffles 32, 34, downwardly and outwardly, until it is shed onto the shingles below the roof peak and underneath the outer attachment flanges 14, 16. In other words the baffles 32, 34 may extend far enough to cover the rough cut portion of the roof so that no water can get underneath the shingles. It can now be appreciated that such water can now drain through the drainage gaps 29 and weeping holes 33 (not shown) and then further down the roof towards the eaves trough or the like.

It can now be appreciated that the present invention provides an air path for the venting of the building enclosure which is free of being compromised by the action of securing the vent to the roof peak with penetrating fasteners F. The air flow shown by arrows A (FIG. 3) through the air flow passageway is fully contained within the space inside of the vent 10, and the securing of the outer attachment flanges does not impact it in any way. Therefore the present invention may solve the issue of prior designs having the air flow passageway compromised by the over aggressive installation of nails from nail guns or the like. A net free area of 18 square inches per foot of vent has provided reasonable results but because the spacers 40 and ribs 27 can be made any desired height the net free area can be made any desired amount within the limits of the overall size of the vent 10. It can also be appreciated that the tapered reinforcing ribs will space the outer attachment flanges from the weather deflecting baffles so that the design net free area can be maintained.

In another aspect the outer attachment flanges may be covered with a layer of shingles 59, in a manner analogous to the cap shingles. In this case the shingles are started at one end on the side, and lapped in a normal fashion until the full side length of the outer attachment flange is covered. Of course this will be required on both sides of the vent. To facilitate the proper installation there may be provided a shingle stop 60 along a top edge of the sides. All that the installer need do is to align the edge of the shingle with the shingle stop 60 and then nail the shingle in place with fasteners N. Again the step of nailing the shingle in place, taking place beyond the free ends of the weather deflecting baffles which help to define the airflow passageways renders the air flow passageway immune to being compromised by overly aggressive nailing.

In an alternative the present invention comprehends that the vent can be made with a moulded appearance of a lapped shingle pattern. The preferred material is molded plastic. The colour of the vent can be co-ordinated to the colour of the shingles to render the vent more pleasing in appearance when viewed from the side. Of course if the vent is covered with lapped shingles it will essentially be invisible from the side as there is only a small gap to the top edge and the drainage gap 29 is also very small.

FIG. 3 shows the flow of air A from the vented building space as it passes through the vent 10. First it passes out through the slot 20 and then it is under the baffles 32, 34. From there it passes around the ends of the baffles 32, 34 and then it is under the attachments flanges 14, 16 and then upwardly and out through the top grill section 54. It can now be appreciated that the grill section 54 which provides the opening for the air to escape from the inside of the vent structure can take a number of forms. For example, although the grill may be limited to the top surface of the vent, air vent slots may also be provided on the upper parts of the outer attachment flanges. All that is required is for the ventilation openings which form the grill to be located in a position so that at least one baffle 32 or 34 can be provided underneath the grill 54 to shelter the ventilation slot 20 and deflect rain water and weather laterally and down away from the open slot 20 in the peak of the roof. As well although two baffles 32, 34 are shown which are symmetrically disposed about the roof peak the present invention comprehends using a single baffle to direct the water away from the open slot formed in the roof. What is believed to be desirable is to position the grill 54 generally above the at least one baffle 32 or 34 so that the open slot 20 can be adequately sheltered, whether there are one or more baffles to do this.

Another aspect of the invention is that by positioning the grill facing upwardly, there will be a natural draw of air up through the vent. For example in the event of there being a wind across the ridge peak, the air will tend to accelerate over the peak. (Bernoulli Effect) As it does accelerate it will create a localized low pressure region which will act to draw up air through the top facing grill. Thus, by locating the ventilation openings which form the grill 54 on an upwardly facing surface, the present invention takes advantage of a natural, but advantageous, venting action. The present invention thus may resolve a problem identified in the prior art of positive pressure causing a stagnation of air flow or a reversal of air flow direction. While a side wind direction would be common and expected, such a side wind direction would create a desirable air flow out of the top of the vent in the present invention and the problems of a positive pressure build up associated with a side facing grill or vent is removed. Further the possibility of a wind direction directly down, which would be required to create a positive pressure downwardly through the top facing grill, is very remote. Thus, the present invention may have improved performance as compared to the side facing grills of the prior art in most typical weather conditions.

Another aspect of the present invention is that it may be formed from a flexible material. While any sheet material could be used that meets the structural requirements such as sheet metal, molded plastics are preferred and yield reasonable results. In this case the outer attachment flanges can be adjusted in angle to accommodate a wide range of the roof slopes. Thus, in a preferred embodiment a single vent can accommodate a typical range of roof slopes, for example from 2/12 to 16/12 or more. Thus, FIG. 4 shows the device of FIG. 3, but on a more gradual roof pitch. It can also be appreciated that the use of the opposed weather deflecting baffles as shown also allows them to be spread according to the roof pitch thus ensuring that the ridge slot remains sheltered even across a wide range of roof pitches as might be encountered in the field. In this aspect the baffle spacers are useful in ensuring a predetermined net free area even though the angle across the roof peak may change with the roof slope. A line of reduced thickness 75, 85 (not shown) may be provided along a top edge of the outer attachment flanges and the weather deflecting baffles to facilitate the easy bending of the components to accommodate the range of roof slopes onto which the vent may be easily adapted.

FIG. 5 shows a section of one outer attachment flange 14. The reinforcing ribs 27 are shown, which taper towards the lower edge 31. Weeping holes 33 are positioned between the ribs 27 as shown.

FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the present invention which takes the form of an end unit. In this embodiment the vent 100 is provided with three extensions 102, 104 and 106 which extend from end and which may be molded as part of the initial molding process.

As shown in FIG. 7, the extensions can be bent down and nailed to the roof peak 108, beyond the end of the ridge slot 110 (FIG. 6). In this way the ridge slot 110 can be enclosed. As shown, the extension 106 is nailed below the peak, at 112 and the same would be true for the extension 102. Then, the extension 104 can be nailed down over top by means of a fastener 114. When installed the extension 104 lies closely over the extension 102 as shown by dotted lines 116. In this way the present invention provides for an end cover on the ridge vent assembly, which may include any number of individual sections fastened over the ridge and long the slot 110. While the use of extensions 102, 104 and 106 as described above is one way to finish or cover the ends, there are other ways of closing the ends to weather and pests as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, a separate end cover unit may also be provided, and is comprehended by the present invention.

It can now be appreciated how the present invention may be installed on a roof having a ridge opening along a peak. All that is required is for the installer to take a section of roof vent and position it over the peak of the roof, the installer will extend the outer attachment flanges to ensure that they are extending down on opposite sides of the roof peak and will centre the grill or top surface above the peak. The weather deflecting baffles are correctly positioned beneath the outer attachment flanges automatically by the reinforcing ribs and in the preferred embodiment evenly spaced on either side of the roof peak. Care must be taken to ensure that the free ends of the weather deflecting baffles are located below the peak and above the shingles on the roof deck to permit weather that gets in through the grill to be shed onto the shingled roof deck below the peak. Once the vent body is properly aligned and the elements are positioned as outlined above the next step is to fasten the vent body to the roof peak. Fasteners can be used to secure the lower parts of the outer attachment flanges to the roof peak, below the level of the free ends of the weather deflecting baffles. In this way the air passageway through the ridge opening, under the weather deflecting baffles and then up and out the top facing grill is not compromised by the act of nailing the vent onto the roof.

It can now be appreciated that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the broad ambit of the invention which is only limited by the scope of the claims attached. Some of these have been discussed above while others will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, while the preferred form of the invention includes two opposed weather deflecting baffles below the grill, there is also the possibility of using fewer or more. All that is required is to include baffles below the top grill which can act to deflect any weather away from the open slot below and at the same time allow the air to pass up and out through the top so as to permit a good air exchange from the attic or enclose building space below. 

We claim:
 1. A ridge vent for venting air through a ridge opening of a roof, the ridge vent comprising: an elongated body having spaced apart outer attachment flanges to partially extend down a sloped roof deck on either side of the ridge opening; a top surface on said elongated body extending between and connecting the outer flanges; a plurality of upwardly facing ventilation openings formed in said elongated body to permit air to vent though said body; and at least one weather deflecting baffle extending below the upwardly facing ventilation openings to deflect water passing through said ventilation openings away from said ridge opening and onto said roof deck adjacent to and below said ridge opening.
 2. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outer attachment flanges include weeping holes to promote water drainage from underneath said flanges.
 3. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 2 wherein said weeping holes are located adjacent to and downward from spacer ribs extending below said attachment flanges.
 4. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said top surface includes a longitudinal impervious strip.
 5. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 4 wherein said longitudinal impervious strip is located towards a middle of said top and said ventilation openings are located on either side of said strip.
 6. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 4 wherein said elongated body includes a pair of opposed weather deflecting baffles, wherein each baffle extends at an angle from below one edge of said strip.
 7. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one weather deflecting baffle includes at least one spacer to define an air flow passageway beneath said at least one weather deflecting baffle.
 8. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 6 wherein each of said weather deflecting baffles includes at least one spacer to define an air flow passageway beneath said weather deflecting baffles.
 9. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one weather deflecting baffle is contained within the elongate body defined by said top and outer attachment flanges.
 10. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is formed from a flexible material.
 11. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 10 wherein said flexible material is one of molded plastic or metal.
 12. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 11 wherein said flexible material is plastic and said plastic is polypropylene with added colour and UV stabilizers.
 13. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said outer flanges include shingle stops to help align shingles on an outer surface of said body.
 14. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vent body includes a pattern on an outer face of said outer attachment flanges.
 15. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 14 wherein said pattern is shaped to look like shingles.
 16. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 1 wherein said body is flexible and can be placed over a peak of a range of typical roof slopes.
 17. The ridge vent as claimed in claim 16 wherein one of both of said outer attachment flanges and said baffles include a thinner portion adjacent to said body to enhance the flexibility of said flanges and baffles to accommodate different roof pitches.
 18. A method of securing a ridge vent to a roof having a ventilation slot formed along a peak of said roof the method comprising the steps of: spreading opposed outer attachment flanges across a ventilation slot in a roof peak; centering a top surface having a grill portion above said ventilation slot; spreading weather deflecting baffles below the grill portion and said ventilation slot to prevent weather from passing through said grill section and then into said slot; and fastening said ridge vent onto said roof peak with fasteners positioned down said roof slope from a free end of said weather deflecting baffles, wherein said fasteners are positioned away from an air flow passageway passing up through said slot under said weather directing baffles and then around a free end of said baffles and up through said upwardly facing grill.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 18 wherein a free end of said weather deflecting baffles is positioned above a shingle layer on said roof, and precipitation is deflected onto said roof below said slot in said roof peak by said weather deflecting baffle.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 19 further including the step of using spacers located under said weather deflecting baffles to maintain desired net free flow area.
 21. The method as claimed in claim 18 further including the step of using ribs to space the outer attachment flanges from the weather deflecting baffles to maintain a desired net free area. 